ACOG Statement on the US MERA Bridge Certificate

April 14, 2016

ACOG supports the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) educational standards as the minimum education and licensure requirement for all midwives practicing in the US. ACOG recognizes that the US MERA bridge certificate is an attempt to elevate the training and education of midwives who lack accredited education and do not currently meet ICM criteria.

The US MERA bridge certificate at present is only intended to address the training and educational needs of CPMs in states that do not currently license these providers. ACOG strongly encourages all apprentice (PEP) trained CPMs to utilize this bridge certificate opportunity. Every CPM, no matter when they were credentialed or where they practice, should at least meet the educational and training standards required of midwives in other nations.

ACOG looks forward to working with ACNM and the other US MERA organizations. It is essential that we send a unified message to legislators, regulators, the public, and our patients that we support nothing less than high quality maternity care.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of more than 57,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. www.acog.org